Portugal took on Uruguay in the pre-quarterfinal match at Sochi Stadium. Two goals from Edinson Cavani was enough for Uruguay to beat Portugal. Pepe did give Portugal a lifeline but it was not enough for Portugal.

It took Uruguay 7 minutes to take lead against Portugal. It was the combination of their two stars Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani which got them the lead. It was as if Cavani created the goal for himself, he collected the ball in the mid-right wing and passed it far left to Luis Suarez. Suarez played an inviting cross to the far right corner, where Cavani headed the ball to its destination, Uruguay was up 1-0 in the match.

Uruguay attacked and tested Portugal’s defense whenever they got the chance. While Portugal tried to find the rhythm in the match with their star player Ronaldo testing Uruguay’s defense.

It was Pepe’s header gave Portugal the much-needed equalizer in the 55th minutes of the game. Pepe scored the goal from a corner kick and made the score 1-1. Pepe’s goal gave Portugal a breathing space in the game. While the celebration was not yet over for Portugal’s fans, Cavani strikes again in the 66th minutes. It was a beautiful curling shot from his right foot which made the score 2-1 for Uruguay.

Ronaldo did not get the space and chance he needed to score a goal in the game. Till the dying minutes of the game, he looked for that one chance but it never arrived. Match ended 2-1 for Uruguay.

Cavani’s two-goal made sure that Uruguay face France in the quarter-final match.The 31-year-old PSG striker scored spectacular goals in either half to win the game for Uruguay, who have to be considered serious challengers now for this crown.

33-year-old  Ronaldo wanted to carry the weight of expectation again and deliver but there is only so much even he can do in what was his 38th game in World and Euro finals.

Only Bastian Schweinsteiger can match that. Last night, however, the star billing went to Edinson Cavani.